What is customary to give for the new year in different countries of the world. What gifts should not be given for the New Year  Countries of the Southern Hemisphere and their New Year's gifts

Christmas magic is impossible to imagine without gifts under the Christmas tree. As a child, we all waited for this moment, when the treasured boxes and bags appeared under the elegant green beauty. Time has passed and we are already “managing” such New Year's magic. Carefully laying out gifts for your loved ones. But, who first came up with giving gifts for the New Year and Christmas?

At the moment, there is no consensus on who first came up with the idea of ​​giving gifts. Such an interesting tradition was found in the culture of all ancient peoples. It is known for certain that in ancient Egypt it was customary to exchange gifts on the day of the winter solstice.

In Babylon, in honor of the god Tammuz, his admirers stacked gifts under the largest tree. And the ancient Romans exchanged gifts with each other during the celebration of the most important days of the year - Saturnalia. This holiday was dedicated to the end of the harvest and was celebrated in December. On these holidays, the rich gave expensive gifts to the poor, and the poor made gifts with their own hands and gave them to the rich.

The tradition changed under the reign of Julius Caesar. At this time, a coin with the image of Janus began to be considered the main gift.

One of the first "legalized" gifts - a coin with two-faced god Janus

The Bible also talks about giving gifts. Everyone, even people who are far from Christianity, know that the Magi, as a sign of the great birthday of Jesus Christ, brought him gold, myrrh and incense as a gift.

The history of the gift and the emergence of the tradition of giving gifts

Gifts originated in prehistoric times. When a man brought prey from the hunt, he gave the best piece to the keeper of the hearth. Nothing has changed since hundreds of thousands of years. And today we give the best gifts to our loved ones.

When civilizations based on family ties appeared, gifts appeared that had a special function - socially significant. Gifts were given to the leader, king, king and any other leaders of the clan, community and state.

At the same time, most often it was not the gift itself that was important, but the ritual of its presentation. A person who received such a gift received a certain status in society as a “bonus”. Today, this tradition can also be found in our lives. For example, when giving gifts for a wedding.

At the dawn of the formation of religions, adherents of a particular faith gave gifts to their gods in the form of sacrifices. In our civilized time, this tradition has become more humane. Most often, in order to appease their God, people make donations to their religious community.

It is interesting that in one of the turns in the development of civilization, gifts had a certain meaning. At each gifting ritual, only a certain gift could be chosen, suitable for this ceremony. Today, a person has a richer choice of gifts for each ceremony.

Moreover, these days, with the help of gifts, you can express your attitude towards the person to whom they are given. Today, you do not need to choose a gift to protect yourself and your children from the wrath of God or your boss. Although, in some cases, this relic of an ancient tradition can be seen even in the most developed society.

A special place in our time has acquired unique and exclusive gifts. Handmade or limited edition items have acquired a special price. Even a cup or T-shirt with your design can be a welcome and interesting gift for any occasion.

An interesting tradition regarding gift giving came to us from Japan. Back in the time of the samurai, in this very interesting Asian country, it was customary to give gifts at the end of December, in accordance with a strict hierarchy in feudal society. In tribute to this tradition, modern Japanese give their friends and loved ones specially created sets of oseibo. They include useful little things. For example, fragrant soap or candles.

By the way, candles are a very popular gift in Sweden. In this Scandinavian country, in which daylight hours are very short, it is customary to give hand-made candles only to the closest people. Other representatives of the harsh cold climate - the Greenlandic Eskimos give each other animal figures carved from ice for the New Year. And due to the fact that in this country the temperature is below zero almost all year round, such figures can survive until the next annual holiday.

Another interesting tradition of giving gifts has developed in Ireland. The inhabitants of this country give money to those who have rendered them services during the year. For example, a postman or a milkman.

And in another unique country - China, close people give each other paired gifts. They symbolize harmony and unity. It can be candlesticks, mugs or wine glasses. By the way, Aliexpress has a whole catalog of such double gifts.

When did the tradition of leaving gifts under the Christmas tree appear in Russia?

In our country, gifts began to be placed under the Christmas tree during the time of Peter the Great. This Emperor adopted the European tradition of celebrating Christmas with a decorated Christmas tree. Many Christmas ceremonies introduced into festive use have been preserved in our country to this day.

Celebrating Christmas in Tsarist Russia

In 1917, after the October Revolution, the communists decided to remove all religious holidays from the calendar. They did not spare Christmas either. True, we decided to leave the winter holiday so beloved by the people. But now it has become known as the New Year and it began to be celebrated on January 1st. Yes, this holiday was also celebrated in Tsarist Russia. But not as big as Christmas.

Let's return to Peter I. The emperor not only ordered to celebrate Christmas on a large scale, but also ordered to give gifts to all loved ones on this holiday. He didn't just do it. It's just that he began to receive expensive gifts from the church every Christmas. Of course, the enterprising king spent them not on himself, but on the needs of the state. But, thanks to this, we still give and receive gifts for the New Year and Christmas.

Video. History of New Year's gifts

The most family, warmest, most long-awaited holiday is approaching - the New Year. Garlands are already flickering on the windows, festive lights are shining on the streets. Someone dressed up the Christmas tree in early December, and someone in the pre-holiday chores has not yet found time for this. Nevertheless, ahead is the last working week of the outgoing year. You need to have time to complete all the things and leave all the worries here in 2016. And no one can do it better than you! But with the choice of gifts, we will be happy to help you.

Just made a list of what is customary to give each other for the New Year in different countries of the world. Who knows, maybe you will peep some idea or create your own tradition!

So let's go!

Austria

In Austria, there is one very unusual gift - a broom, an ordinary broom. Before the New Year, people give each other a broom to sweep the whole house with it before the holiday, and then burn it down. But seriously, the Austrians prefer practical gifts, clothes and accessories. And in this country, invitations to a festive evening at the famous Vienna Opera are also popular.

Sweden

Homemade candles are traditional gifts in Sweden. Such a tradition could appear only beyond the Arctic Circle, where it starts to get dark early. The light and warmth of the candle symbolize friendship and fun.

China

The Chinese prefer to give unmarried people red envelopes with money. And spouses are given paired items symbolizing unity, family harmony (two cups, paired candlesticks). In no case do the Chinese give each other watches, because the countdown in their minds is associated with death.

Hungary

In Hungary, it is customary to give each other warm socks, books and sleds! Moreover, these gifts are relevant not only for children, but also for adults! Think about it, what else do you need in winter?

Japan

In Japan, it is customary to give daruma to each other on New Year's Eve. This is a wooden doll with only one eye drawn and a wish is made. According to tradition, the daruma is burned if the wish does not come true, and if it does, then the second eye is drawn. The Japanese also give each other "oseibo" - these are gift sets with canned food, fragrant soap and other different things for everyday use. Historians believe that this tradition originated in the Middle Ages among the samurai. But flowers should never be given for the New Year. Moreover, such a gesture can greatly offend the Japanese. It is believed that only members of the imperial family have the right to give flowers. A Japanese will not accept a flower from a mere mortal.

Germany

In Germany, a book is considered a good gift. But the most pleasant gift in Germany is a trip, the direction and duration of which already depends on the family budget.

France

It would seem that the answer to the question about gifts is obvious - perfume. However, married women cannot give perfume for the New Year. Only a husband can make such a gift. Therefore, the French love to give each other postcards and souvenirs.

Greece

It seems that in terms of gifts, the Greeks bypassed everyone. Do you know what they give each other for the New Year? Stone. Yes, you didn't hear it. When such a, to put it mildly, non-standard gift is presented, they say: "Let the owner's money be as heavy as this stone." And if the stone is small, then they wish: "Let the thorn in the owner's eye be as small as this stone." Of course, it does not do without standard gifts, such as a basket of champagne and wine.

And if you decide to make a gift to yourself or your loved ones in the German tradition, we are waiting for you at our officesE TRAVEL!

Why is it so nice to give gifts? The point here is not only in our belief that good will return a hundredfold. Giving gifts is an extremely useful activity from an evolutionary point of view. Scientists are sure that this is inherent in us by nature: we must give in order to feel truly good. In prehistoric times, the most generous male homo sapiens, who shared both food and shelter, received more grateful females, and their genes successfully spread to reach us. On the other hand, women who tend to give more warmth, food and comfort to their babies were better at protecting them, giving them more chances to survive until reproductive age. And we are the descendants of those same babies born from the unions of a generous man and a loving woman. It is very pleasant to give gifts, it is difficult to argue with nature.

Evolution has made it so that during the gift, endorphins, hormones of joy, enter our bloodstream. So the process, especially if the gift is a success, is pleasant for both parties. We become physically happier by giving something good to others.

Well, then, when people had a culture, a rite was formed from the process of donation. At first it was practiced by shamans. They "gave" talismans to the warriors of the tribe and held ceremonies in their honor so that they would successfully return from the hunt - alive and with prey. The first gifts were beautiful stones, necklaces made of bones, figurines made of wood and bark.

The next stage in the development of the tradition is associated with the kings of the Sumerians and other ancient peoples. To please the king before the audience, residents and emissaries from different lands first prepared gifts. It was impossible to come to a great man empty-handed. But good gifts could win the favor of the ruler, and those who had the best gifts received an audience in the first place. Part of what was given then, many thousands of years before our era, remains in vogue now: silver, gold, myrrh, incense, beautiful dishes.

Later this tradition was adopted by Christianity. At the birth of Jesus, three wise men came and brought him their gifts - recognizing in him the king of the Jews. And now at Christmas, almost the whole world repeats this custom, giving beautiful things to each other. Europeans were the first to do this on New Year's Eve, and then this custom spread to America, Africa and other colonies. Some nations still do not give each other anything on Christmas or New Year's Eve, but in general, even those who do not believe in Christ have recognized the kindness and value of tradition. Gift exchange - what could be nicer?

What is given for the New Year in the countries of the world

Each nation has its own ancient traditions, its own mentality. And although globalization has pretty much worn it out, so that a schoolboy of any country, from Chile to Thailand, will be happy and happy with the iPhone, and the people who have walked up and starved in both South Africa and Mexico go for a quick bite to eat at McDonald's, part of the traditions still remains. They are mainly related to what inexpensive gift option can be made with meaning and what must be served at the family table.

For example, Austrians The people are very practical. They give only what will definitely come in handy: toys, warm clothes, a ticket to the opera or theater. In general, spending a holiday at home is considered shameful. Still, happiness is worth sharing with everyone, and a good company has never bothered anyone. Therefore, the inhabitants of the same Vienna like to go to the Freyung city square, where the oldest Christmas market in the world is held (it is documented that it has been here since at least 1294). Here, fresh pastries, cotton candy, hot drinks and roasted chestnuts are waiting for residents.

English they sit in the same boat as the Austrians: they don’t need gifts that are too expensive. It is considered sufficient to present some nice cheap trinket: a key chain, a beautiful tea spoon, a set of beautiful dishes, fragrant candles.

But Americans- a completely different breed. They love their Christmas, starting to prepare for it since Black Friday, the last Friday of November. They are bought in full, they decorate houses. The average American spent $830 on Christmas in 2015, and of that, $580 (70%) came from gifts. This is one and a half to two times more than that of Western Europeans. They give clothes (sweaters, scarves), electronics, new gadgets. And in order not to take risks and not give something that a person may not like, a check is handed with a gift. If anything, a person can always return it to the store and get their money back. Commercialism is off scale: in early January, queues of those who want to give away goods line up in front of supermarkets. And the donor does not need to know about it.

By the way, in order to save a person time and guarantee a more or less pleasant result, gift certificates (gift cards) have recently become very common here. Almost every major store has them. You spend $50, $100 (or whatever you want), buy such a certificate, and then give it to a person. And then he himself can choose the right thing in the store. On the one hand, it’s really more convenient than standing in line with a check later. And the store is very profitable: he receives money in advance, plus he guarantees that no one will come to him with goods the next day. On the other hand, personal attachment is still lost. By purchasing a gift certificate, you are essentially admitting that you don't have a very good idea of ​​what this person wants.

But who does not need all sorts of "gift cards" is Bulgarians. Traditions and good mood are more important for them. It is considered a good sign to give friends and family dogwood sticks, a tree of youth and health. Then with these sticks you can whip friends, neighbors and even animals - so that they add health and strength. And traditional Hungarians give warm clothes, books, winter accessories (skis, sleds).

In America, in the 70s, a creative gift was popular - an ordinary stone, Pet Rock. This is a pet that does not need to be looked after at all! Its creator made millions on this idea. So here it is Greeks thought of this before! They even have a tradition: to give acquaintances and friends a mossy stone for the New Year. If the stone is large, they say: "Let your wealth be as much as the weight of this stone." And if the pebble is small, they want the family to have just as few illnesses and hardships. Incidentally, this is a very relevant tradition against the backdrop of the Greek financial crisis. If you prepare a good replica and stock up on suitable stones on the shore, you don’t need to spend money on gifts at all.

religious Irish be sure to give the children something directly related to Christmas: a figurine of Jesus or an angel, for example. And for adults, homemade food and a bottle of good beer or wine are prepared.

Italians They also like to give wine to friends, but for a completely different reason. It is important to show how sophisticated and classy you are. Small utilitarian trinkets are not held in high esteem: it is better to take some stylish piece of clothing (gloves, tie), in extreme cases - perfume. If there are romantic feelings, elegant underwear is well suited, especially red.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is celebrated about a month later than ours, but it is celebrated on the same scale. For gifts Chinese are also taken very seriously, almost like the Americans. In recent years, the local middle class has money, they have both the occasion and the means to celebrate. Family harmony is usually put at the forefront: it is customary to give friends, relatives, and acquaintances paired items designed to strengthen the couple and prevent them from being separated. Well go, for example, two mugs, two vases, two pairs of slippers, two bottles of wine, two candlesticks, two similar lamps. If you have money and space allows, you can, for example, get two armchairs, two TVs or even two refrigerators, the Chinese will not be offended. And a universal and inexpensive gift for those who have tight finances - rice cookies, "nyan-gao". Perfume, cosmetics, or a figurine / toy of an animal symbolizing the coming year are also suitable.

As for children, everything is simple: the Chinese give hongbao. A beautiful red envelope with a certain amount of money inside. You can put in exactly as much money as finances allow, so that both rich and poor relatives always know what to give. Children in China are loved, and during the holidays, children usually receive a lot of envelopes, the contents of which are then spent on entertainment or given to their parents. Hongbao, by the way, is a great way to teach children to be independent and help them plan their finances competently from an early age.

But what is not accepted in China as a gift is a watch. The word "clock" when spoken aloud in Chinese sounds like "zhong" - almost the same as the word for "death". The gift of a clock, especially a wall clock, may be considered a bad sign. Also, the Chinese do not give live cut flowers, a symbol of drying up life.

Practical Germans sometimes they also like to take a break from their everyday life. Traveling with friends or family is considered the most wonderful gift for them. The destination and duration depend only on the budget and personal preferences. They prefer to relax in their homeland, as well as in warm Spain and Italy (Majorca, Ibiza, Canary Islands). Books are also considered a good gift here. A smart book shows that you have a high opinion of the owner.

At Portuguese everything that is done with your own hands is included in the price. They are delighted with carved boxes, embroidered tablecloths or tapestries, dishes, handmade toys. Yes, the objects are ordinary, but they convey the warmth of the real person who made them. And quite the opposite approach French: for them, it is desirable that the New Year's gift be sensual, expensive and impractical. Home crafts are not in price, fashion and high matter are more important here. Wives give their husbands expensive ties and exclusive accessories, and husbands give their wives expensive underwear and perfume. Of the budget options, holiday cards, movie CDs, and books "come in" well.

Most people spend on Christmas and New Year in Europe Czechs- if we take the ratio with the average salary. For them, this is a special holiday with deep traditions. People do not hesitate to buy gifts for half of their salary every year and even go into debt for this. The average Czech spends $480 on such a good cause. At the same time, gifts are quite ordinary: Christmas balls, wreaths, candles, angels, key rings, figurines, cups with a New Year theme. Any not particularly necessary, but still nice souvenirs. Employees at corporate parties, as a rule, are given a calendar with the faces of all the people of the company, a beautiful album, a special box of sweets with a photo and the name of the recipient, or champagne with its own "photoshopped" label.

Oseibo in Japan

At Japanese New Year is the biggest and most revered holiday. It lasts a whole week. Three branches are necessarily placed in houses: plums (so that there is good health), pine trees (so that the family lives as long as this tree) and bamboo (so that children grow up just as quickly). Sometimes a straw rope is stretched in front of the door - so that it scares away bad spirits. They celebrate the New Year at sunrise, after 108 strokes of the Buddhist temple bell, which cleanses a person from six vices with all their eighteen shades. After that, every Japanese becomes a year older. By the way, Koreans have the same leapfrog: they have two different ages - a person who was technically born in December 2016, on January 1, 2017, will turn two years old at once. A person who, by our standards, would be only a few days old, is already considered two years old here.

Well, the Japanese also celebrate the New Year in a very unusual way, and they even came up with their own system for giving gifts here. Still, they are the descendants of the samurai, for whom the social hierarchy was extremely important. Don't give too much or too little. Therefore, in Japan, gift sets, oseibo, are common, which are sold ready-made in stores. It is enough to buy a female or male version, choose the one that is a little more expensive or a little cheaper. And there will already be everything that is expected from the Japanese: fruits, soap, cookies, perfumes, household items. And beautifully packaged and designed. Convenient - and safe. In the New Year period, entire shelves are allocated for such gift sets in stores.

Millions of people consider giving New Year gifts an obligatory tradition that will bring happiness, prosperity and well-being in the coming year.

What is customary to give in the countries of the world for the New Year, our article will tell.

Christmas gifts from neighboring countries

China holds the record for gifts. Perhaps nowhere in the world do they attach such importance to giving as in China. Children are traditionally given red envelopes with money invested. Especially close people are given rice cookies, the recipe of which is kept in every family. Household and computer equipment, the latest smartphone model - these items are happy to give and accept almost all Chinese as a gift.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - here for the New Year everything that can be useful in the family is given: from toys to large household appliances. Traditional sweets, which these hospitable countries are so famous for, are also an obligatory gift.

New Year's gifts in Europe

They love to celebrate the New Year in Austria - and they give each other funny and original gifts. The pig, the four-leaf clover and the chimney sweep are Austrian New Year characters. They are given to everyone without exception. They also send postcards with pictures of cute pigs.

It is considered a very lucky sign to receive a horseshoe or an old gold coin as a gift.

The modest inhabitants of Norway on New Year's Eve give matches to friends and neighbors - a symbol of warmth and happiness.

In Denmark, gifts are given mainly to children. Little Danes get a plush or wooden Christmas tree with a troll peeking out from under the branches.

In Sweden, homemade candles are given with the wishes of good and joy. The light of lit candles means that there will be happiness in the house all year long.

In Holland, the most common New Year's gift is tulip bulbs! The inhabitants of this country love their traditional flowers so much. A tulip bulb is solemnly presented in an exquisite mug.

Hospitable Greeks celebrate the New Year noisily and loudly, often in large companies. They prefer to give large baskets filled with generous contents: food, wine, and also put a new deck of cards in the basket.

In Spain, the holiday is also celebrated in large companies, often in local cafes or restaurants. They give handbags with holiday paraphernalia, masks and cute souvenirs.

Practical Germans approach gifts rationally: household appliances, books and useful things for the home are held in high esteem. Also in Germany they are very fond of presenting sweets prepared with their own hands.

In England, New Year's gifts are treated with restraint, but they decorate houses with love and prepare delicious dishes. Therefore, they give luxurious wreaths-decorations on the front door, interior items or pots of mistletoe - a plant that is endowed with magical properties in England.

Countries of the Southern Hemisphere and their New Year's gifts

While in Russia the New Year is the height of winter, in hot Brazil it is the middle of summer. People dress in light white clothes, dance, drink champagne and always exchange presents in beautiful packaging with ribbons.

Also in Australia, New Year falls in the summer. Guests of the country are presented with the "Australian Christmas tree" - a metrosideros plant strewn with needle-like purple flowers. Australians also send Christmas and New Year cards to each other - a nice and kind tradition.

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New Year is the most beloved holiday for people all over the world and of all ages.

Starting from a baby who understands the world around him and ending with grandparents of 100 years of age, everyone is looking forward to this holiday full of fun, celebration and fabulous magic.

On New Year's holiday, along with other traditions, it is symbolic to give gifts. That is why people "storm" New Year's fairs and bazaars, shops and souvenir shops in advance in search of New Year's gifts for friends and colleagues, for children and relatives and just for neighbors.

Gifts can be given in different ways, especially at the present time, i.e. according to their material resources. Someone can give mom gold earrings, someone a warm terry bathrobe, and someone a beautiful New Year's souvenir and everyone will be happy with the gift. It is customary for old parents to give something soft, warm and cozy to feel the love and care of children.

First Christmas present.

I read somewhere that the first New Year's gift in Ancient Rome was a branch of a laurel tree, which was considered a symbol of happiness, and congratulations from playful poetic lines.

Russian traditions of giving New Year's gifts.

We Russians, by virtue of our broad nature and generosity, love to give many small, inexpensive gifts. Children will be more delighted when they see many gift boxes under the tree than one box with a more expensive gift.

Russian traditions associated with New Year's gifts are mixed with the traditions of other peoples. It came from Austria that gifts should be practical. We are slowly finding out what each of the relatives would like to receive as a gift for the New Year and are already preparing a corresponding gift. Someone adopted the traditions of the British, who are not very generous with expensive gifts, they give New Year's souvenirs, beer mugs, key chains and other small stuff.

With children, things are easier. A few years ago, it became a tradition for kids to write a letter to Santa Claus and order a gift that the child would like to receive. From the letter they wrote together, it is clear to the parents what to buy. If it is an order for an expensive gift, parents can always settle by saying that Santa Claus does not have enough money for such expensive gifts and the child will agree to a less expensive gift without resentment and grief.

Now it has become fashionable for us to present a ticket to the opera or to a concert of a popular singer, a gift certificate for branded purchases as a gift.

In addition to all this, I will return to the fact that gifts for the New Year can be given in a variety of ways, what would they symbolize winter and the new year, so as not to offend the symbol of the coming year. I will make a reservation, avoid banal gifts. I think that a child will not be very happy if he receives school supplies as a gift, a man will not be delighted with socks, and a woman with cosmetics. Choose original gifts to bring fun, joy and a good festive mood.

It is customary to give gifts that have a good symbolic meaning, they are usually pleasant to receive, they cheer up and make the holiday joyful.

For example: scented candles, they are now being made very beautiful and original, they symbolize light and warmth, protection and life. If you think that this is not enough, then you can give them together with an inexpensive gift and it will turn out very well.

Actually, to be honest.....

In general, to be honest, in our present time - the time of inflation and unemployment, it is customary to give gifts that are necessary. This is joy, a good mood for both the recipient of the gift and the giver. It is nice to receive the necessary household appliances as a gift. A good New Year's holiday, it makes happy not only children, but also adults.

It is customary for children to give their mothers, fathers and other loved ones handmade gifts - postcards painted in the style of winter and a New Year tree, decorated with rhinestones, drawings, carved beautiful snowflakes. Girls can sew and embroider thought pillows, make a beautiful panel out of shreds, applying imagination and desire.

Sweet gifts for children.

It has become a long-standing tradition that on New Year's Eve it is also customary for children to give a sweet gift - a New Year's bag with sweets. Such gifts are brought home by parents from the enterprises where they work, such gifts are received by children at matinees in kindergartens and schools, such delicious gifts are found by children under the Christmas tree at home, rejoicing, well, what a wonderful holiday NEW YEAR! It is customary to give such gifts in colorful bags, boxes and all kinds of bags in the form of an animal. It's so cute, joyful, fun, and even delicious.

Happy New Year!